Here is what you can achieve using this tool:
There are a handful of limitations in VLOOKUP function. Accountants tend to overuse this function and at some point you must have thought – if only this favorite Excel function could pull all the matches rather than only returning the first match.
If you are not aware of this problem let me explain this for you. If the lookup value column contains duplicate values then VLOOKUP will only extract the first value.
In the above screenshot, you can see there is a list of sales achieved by Sales people in quarter 1 and 2. In cell F2, there is a VLOOKUP formula to extract the sales for Lee. The problem is that it only extracts the first sales figure which is in quarter 1. If I wanted to extract Lee’s sales in quarter 2 instead, VLOOKUP will not be able to do this. VLOOKUP doesn’t allow you to extract the nth value.
Here is a link to the custom excel function the arguments that it supports. This custom function solves the exact limitation of the VLOOKUP function outlined above.
Steps to Install:
Step 1: Download the Excel Addin File from this link.
Step 2: Install the Addin File
(i) Open your “Microsoft Excel”
(ii) Go to “Files:
(ii) Go to “Options”
(iv) Go to “Add-ins” tab in the new window
(v) At the bottom at “Manage” Section choose “Excel Add-ins” and click “Go”
(vi) Click “Browse” and browse and select the file downloaded from Step 1
(vii) Click “OK” and return to Excel Spreadsheet
Step 3: You can start to use the tool
Step 4: The Function
MLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [remove_duplicates])
Lookup_value: Select the cell where search values will be entered.
Table_array: The table range, including all cells in the table.
Col_index_num: The data which is being looked up. The input is the number of the column, counted from the left:
Remove_Duplicates: Optional Argument. FALSE by Default; FALSE returns all matches; TRUE returns only unique matches
Follow this post for more updates. You can later download more latest version of the forex tool here in this same post.
Hi Sushil,
Very nice add in and appreciate your effort for this add in.
There is a small suggestion from my side which may enhance and actually put your this nice work to next level.
My suggestion is that in real practical scenario, we generally don’t find everything in the list in proper order as per our wish. For example, in your example, ‘Lee’ value is appeared twice in sequence of quarter 1 and 2. But there may be situation where this Quarter 1 and 2 is not properly arranged, specially in case of large data set. So, what may be required is that user may need to select 2nd column range also which give exact idea of what is different in repeated no. Generally, right now, we are using an additional helper column to get this kind of solution.
It would be great if you can work on this and enhance it further to meet this kind of actual practical purpose.
Thank you for your time and keep it up the wonderful thing.
Thank you for the excellent suggestion. I will definitely try to incorporate this.
This macro does not appear to work when referencing multiple sheets. Please consider updating the macro for this feature.
the mlookup.xlam it doesn’t run after intalled in office 2016
Its asking for a password?